Boggy Sand Road

Historic Boggy Sand Road is one of the most charming and much-loved streets on Grand Cayman.

Its appeal lies in the mixture of old-time Caymanian cottages and modern beach homes that line this unique neighbourhood.

The soft hues of the wattle-and-daub properties, some featuring traditional sand gardens and gingerbread trimmings, evoke another era of the ‘islands that time forgot’, while a number of the newer beach houses exude quintessential Caribbean appeal, just steps from the water.

Situated at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, the street gained its name from the road which remained unpaved until the 1970s and often saw vehicles become stuck in the sand.

Boggy Sand Road is one of the last places on the beach to see distinctive Cayman-style architecture.

There are more than a dozen of these charming cottages, making the neighbourhood something of a national treasure. The homes, a number of which date back to the 1800s, have been documented for the Cayman Islands National Trust heritage registry, including details of their history and construction.

WHAT IS WATTLE AND DAUB?

A traditional building method using sand and limestone melted in a kiln. The mixture was then plastered onto a bamboo frame and fortified with ironwood, an endemic species of tree prized for its strength and durability.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THESE TRADITIONAL CAYMAN COTTAGES CAN BE FOUND ON THE NATIONAL TRUST WEBSITE.

LIVING IN THE LOCALE

AMENITIES

Easy access to the beach, Foster’s Republix supermarket, shops and bank at Centennial Towers and Heritage Square, Sir John A. Cumber Primary School, Grace Christian Academy and Wesleyan Christian Academy, convenient drive to Camana Bay.

ENTERTAINMENT

Nearby are several restaurants including Al Fresco, Calypso Grill, Cracked Conch, The Commodore, Heritage Kitchen, Bacaro and Morgan’s (both at Cayman Islands Yacht Club), Tukka West Bay and Vivo; Cayman Turtle Centre; Dolphin Discovery; Powell Museum; watersports and dive operators.

DRAWBACKS

Sea can occasionally get very rough during storms, sometimes causing damage to properties on the waterline.

This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands and delivered to select homes in eco-tote bags sponsored by LIVING.KY.